JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  Scnoci  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
Tufts  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton,  MA  01536 


THE  FOX  CHASE. 


BY 


JAMES    BOWEN    EVERHART, 


AUTHOR    OF    MISCELLANIES    AND    POEMf 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PORTER   &   COATES. 
1874. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873,  by 

J.   B.   EVERHART, 

in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


ASHMEAD,    PKINTKK. 


Hon.    JOHN    HICKMAN, 

THESE   PAGES   ARE   DEDICATED, 

AS  A  TOKEN  OF   REGARD   FOR   HIS   CHARACTER  AS  A  STATESMAN, 

LAWYER,   AND    FRIEND, 

AND   FOR   HIS  LOVE   OF   "THE   NOBLE   PASTIME   OF 

HUNTYNGE   WITH   RUNNYNGE 

HOUNDES." 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

THE   FOX, 

DRAWING   COVER, Frontispiece. 

FULL   CRY, 12 

TALLY-HO! 14 

HOUNDS  AT  FAULT 19 

GONE  AWAY,                   20 

DEAD   BEAT, 29 


Camposque  patentes 
Scrutamur,  totisque  citi  discurrimus  arvis. 

Nemesianus. 


Videtur 
Natura,  parens,  hunc  homini  dedisse  ludum. 

J.    C.   SCALIGER. 

That  he  'n  is  clad  and  r'edy  for  to  ride, 

With  hunte  and  home  and  houndes  him  beside  5 

For  in  his  hunting  hath  he  swiche  delite, 

That  it  is  all  his  joys  and  appetite. 

Chaucer. 


A  cry  more  tuneable 
Was  never  halloo'd  to,  nor  cheered  with  horn, 
In  Crete,  in  Sparta,  nor  in  Thessaly, 

Shakspeare. 


PROEM. 


In  the  drifted,   muddy  strata 

Of  the  Lakers'  age  of  stone  j 
On  the  graven  wrecks  of  cities, 

Where  early  science  shone  j 
In  history,  and   in   ballads, 

In  customs,  and  in  modes. 
In  philosophies,  and   worship, 

In  calendars,  and   codes 
Of  rude  and  civil  eras, 

Of  every  tongue  and  place — 
We  read  how  all  have  honored 

The  service  of  the  chase. 


THE  FOX  CHASE. 


Wide  o'er  the  braes  of  Birmingham — 
All  rife  with   song,  and   sweet  with  balm, 
Where  granges  trim,  with   rolling  soil, 
Are  fair  to   view  and  kind  to  toil — 
There  rose  as  fresh  and  gay  a  morn, 
As  ever  answered  hunter's  horn. 
The  skv,  suffused  with  rosy  beams. 
Enameled   downs  and  silver  streams. 
Reflected,  through  the  shimmering  haze. 
The  summer  of  Saint  Martin's  days. 
The  pleasant  air  sighed  toward  the   west, 
As  Reynard,  from  his  covert  press'd, 


12  THE   FOX   CHASE. 

Sped  o'er  the  ground,  with   wondrous  ease, 
As  if  upborne  upon  the  breeze. 

An  instant — shone  the  thrilling  sight  ! 
An  instant's  pause  from  sheer  delight  ! 
As  open  mouthed  upon  his  trace. 
In  glorious  cry,  forth   burst  the  chase. 
With  bounding  joy  and  loosened  rein. 
The  gallant  steeds  devour  the  plain. 
Their  clanging  hoofs  augment  the  roar 
Of  fretted  currents  as  they  pour 
'Gainst   Brandywine's  historic   shore. 

The  startled  osprey  drops  his  spoil, 
The  cawing  crows  diffuse  the  broil, 


THE    FOX   CHASE.  I  3 

The   wild  ducks  dive  beneath  the  tide, 
The  snorting  herds  flee  far  and  wide, 
The   scattered   fowls  in  panic  scream, 
The  ploughman  halts  his  restless  team. 
The  woodsman  holds  his  axe  in  poise. 
As  nearer  rings  the   blithesome   noise  : 
The  milkmaid   leaves  the   curdling  churn. 
And  travellers  from   their  journey  turn. 
And  folks  from   smithv  and   from   manse. 
From  roadside  bank  and   hill's  expanse, 
From  bridge  and  mill  and  garden  wall. 
Gaze  on  the  hunters'   carnival. 


Unnumbered  tongues  the  chorus  swell, 
Unnumbered  gestures   strive  to  tell 
2 


THE   FOX   CHASE. 

Where  late  the   quarry  pass'd  the   dell, 
And  where,  In   view,  the  pack  pursued 
And  vanished  in  the  tangled   wood. 
Meanwhile,  the  distant  murmurs  lead 
The  foaming  huntsmen  o'er  the  mead 
And  up  the  gently  sloping  hill. 
Where  prudent  worth   and  martial   skill 
Adorned  our  dim   Ancestral  times 
With   lustre  of  the   Classic   climes. 


And  now,   behold!   in  yonder  field! 

By   chestnut  copse,   sometime  concealed. 

The  auburn  sheen  of  Reynard's  hair, 

As  on  he   moves,  through   shade  and  glare  ; 


■.>S'm^^:?^.i#*'^fe*''  ^i 


\  Jfl^^^ 


THE   FOX   CHASE.  I  5 

With   head   erect  and  streaming  tail, 
As  graceful  as  a  bird  or  sail — 
He  scarcely  seems  to  heed  the  ground, 
So  light  his  touch,   so  fleet  his  bound  ; 
So  fearless  too,  he  seems  to  court 
And  revel  in  the  cheering  sport. 


Anon,   he   stops  and  bends  to  hear. 
As  if  the  music  charmed  his  ear  ; 
And  archly  scans  the  hastening  foe 
As  if  he  loved  the  splendid  show;- 


Anon,  he  speeds,  and   well   he  may, 
For  nearer  now,  the  pack's  fierce  bay 


l6  THE    FOX   CHASE. 

Rolls  o'er  the  land,   so  wild  and   loud 
That  glen  and  craggy  peak, 

And  hoary  wood  and  hanging  cloud 
A  thousand  echoes  speak. 


And  as  the  scenic  pictures  shift, 
As  colors  melt,  and  shadows  lift 

Like   veils  from   nature's   face. 
The  multitudinous   voice  replies. 
In  ever  changing  symphonies. 

To  urge  the  constant  chase. 


And  surely,   never  yet  was   heard 

From  tongue  of  man,   or  throat  oi  bird, 


THE   FOX    CHASE.  1 7 

P'rom  reed  or  tube  or  string  or  key, 
From  all  the   craft  of  minstrelsy, 
More  stirring,   joy-inspiring  sounds 
Than  our  rude   orchestra  of  hounds 

Pours  on  the  listenino;  land — 
As  if  the  unseen  sylvan  Powers 
Went  choiring  through  the   matin   hours. 

At   Dian's  fond  command. 


But   Reynard   knows  his  peril   well. 
And  wisely  shuns  the   fatal   spell. 
Which   Reason  once  could   not  withstand, 
When,   floating  o'er  the  sea-born  mist, 

The   Syren's  cunning  chaunt 
Allured  the  coy,  attentive  ear, 


THE   FOX   CHASE. 

With   its  delicious  tones,  too  near 
The  cruel   Monsters'  haunt. 


His  keener  instinct  lends  him  foils 
To  catch  the  strain  and   'scape  the  toils. 
He  circles  round  and   doubles  back, 
And   crosses  o'er   his  former  track, 
Confounds  his  course  with   frequent  scheme- 
And   swims  the  dam  and   wades  the   stream, 
And  passes  on,  with   spirit  bold. 
By   stable  yard  and  cattle   fold, 
And  keeps,  awhile,  the   beaten  road, 
Till  turned  by  cur  or  creaking  load — 
Then  mounts  the  fence  and  runs  the  rail, 
And  leaves  pursuit  without  a  trail. 


THE   FOX   CHASE.  I9 

The   hounds  approach — but  soon  at  fault — 
The  clamor  dies — the  huntsmen   halt. 

Yet  ranging,   here  and  there,  at  will, 
With   eager  search  and   patient  skill. 
Some  single  cry  the  scent  reveals — 
The  rallied  pack,   with   instant  peals. 
Exulting,  rush   in  wild  array  ; 
And   from  their  dappled   sides  display 

All   tints  the    Gohel'in  weaves — 
Like  such  as  flash   from   pictured   Saints, 
Or  like   the  genial   Season  paints 

Upon  the   flying  leaves. 

A  scene  unique,  so  passing  bright, 
So  glorious  to  the  ear  and  sight, 


20  THE    FOX   CHASE. 

Would  thrill  the  sternest  soul 
That  ever  carped  at  grace  or  joy, 
Or  scowled  at  sport  of  man  or  boy, 

And  turned   sweet  life  to  dole. 
For  e'en   the   horses  rapture   feel. 
And  leap  unscourged   by  whip  or  heel, 

With   emulation  fond  ; 
And   bend   the  neck  and  gather  quick. 
And  clear  the   fence  and   clear  the   creek, 

And   scale  the  rock   beyond. 


Lo  !   now  Away!  the   Fox   has  goue^ 
Forsakes  his  haunts  and  trusts   his   brawn. 
And  led   by  his  instinctive  guides, 
Adown  the  current  wind   he  glides  ; 


THE   FOX   CHASE.  21 

Nor  slacks  his  foot,  nor   veers  his  course, 
But  onward  holds,  through  grove  and  gorse. 
Until,  by  Dungeon   Hollow's  strand. 
He  feels  the   moist  air  fresh   and   bland  : 
And  sees  his  mirrored  form  below. 
And  hears  nor  hound  nor    Tally-ho ! 


A   spot,  secluded,   wild  and   weird. 

With   summer  charms   subdued  and   seared  \ 

With  channel  not  too  wide  to  show 

The  flowers  that  beyond   it  blow. 

And  deep  enough   for  craft  as  big 

As  pleasure-skiff  or  naval  gig ; 

Presenting,   in   its  waves  serene, 

A  varied  and  attractive  scene, 


22  THE    FOX   CHASE. 

Of  Stretching  lea  and  sheltering  ridge, 
Of  travelled   way  and  covered  bridge, 
Of  shores,   sustained  by  partial  wall, 
By   native  rock,  and  timbers  tall. 
Along  the   borders  grown  in  files, 
With   branching  arcs,  like   Gothic  aisles ; 
While  every  ripple  of  the   stream 
Reflects  a  many-colored  gleam. 
Of  foliage,  aster,  golden   rod. 
Still  decorating  tree  and  sod  ; 
And  every  nook  and  every  glance 
Suggests  tradition  and  romance  ; 
Befitting  well  the   fancied  rites 
Of  former  Nymphs  or  later   Sprites  ; 
Where   Fairies  might  their  circle  spread, 
And   Muses  inspiration  shed — 


THE    FOX   CHASE.  23 

A   place   for  age  and  wearied  care, 
For  love,   for  penance,  and  for  prayer, 
For  dreamy   thought,  or  festal  hymn — 
A   place   to  sail,  or  fish,  or  swim. 


It   seemed,   withal,  a  refuge   meet, 
For  Reynard  in  his  long  retreat, — 
But  as  he   slakes  his  burning   tongue, 
And  prowls  awhile  the   brush  among. 
And  half  a  wounded   bird   devours. 
The  cry  resumes — and   forth   he  scours. 


With   freer  breath,  and   strength   restored, 
He  passes  o'er  the  rapid   ford  ; 


24  THE    FOX   CHASE. 

And   firmly  on  the   further  banks, 

An  instant,   shakes  his  dripping  flanks — 


Then  skirts  along  the   Red   xMan's  Spring, 
Still  gushing,   where   he   used  to  sing 
His  battle   song  and  council   hold. 
With   savage  pomp,  in    days  of  old. 


Thence,   bears  o'er  those   Pocopson  heights. 

Where   many  a  gorgeous  glimpse  delights. 

Of  rural  shows,  of  pictured  land. 

So  multifarious,  vast,  and  grand. 

And  grouped  and    shaded  with   such   grace — 

No  art  could   half  their  beauties  trace. 


THE    FOX   CHASE.  25 

Then,   westward,   leaves   that  rockv   heap, 
AVhere   Indian  Hannah  used  to  keep 
Her  native   state,   and   pride   declare. 
As  Lenappe's  unchallenged   heir. 


Now,  as  he   hies  toward   Minehill  ledge, 
Through   swamp  and   burn  and   ragged  hedge, 
For  manv  a  mile,   the   hunt  is  strown  ; 
And   many   a    stalwart   horse  is   blown. 
And  many  a  boasted  dog  has  thrown 
His  weary  limbs  on  turf  or  stone. 
And  casual  echoes,   faint  and  stray, 
Show  others  dragging  far   away, 
Whence   neither  shout   nor  bugle  strain 
Shall  rouse  them  to  the   "lead"  again. 
3 


26  THE   FOX   CHASE. 

Thus,   only   few,  of  all  the  pack. 
Unerring,  keep  the   devious   track. 
Whose   fortitude  and   finer  smell 
Their  thorough   blood  and  training  telL- 
Scarce  Homer's   Argus   was   more  true, 
Scarce   Ovid's  Laelaps  swifter   flew. — 
And,  with  accordant,  deep  acclaim. 
They    follow   up  the  heated   game. 

Diffusing,  as  he  goes. 
More  pungent  scent  along  his   path. 
Spurring  pursuit   with  keener  wrath. 

As  on  his  rear  they   close. 


Let   Reynard   hasten — for  although 
The  sunbeams  now  are   slantino;  low, 


THE    FOX   CHASE.  27 

The   dogs  gain   faster   than  the   night, 
And   he  grows  weaker  with   the  Hght. 
Unless  he   reach  yon  laurel   wold, 
Or  darkness  wrap  him  in   her  fold, 
Or  chance   or  craft  the   hunt  retard, 
His  future   will   be  brief  and  hard. 


For  hoarser  vet  the  warning  booms, 
And   nearer,   still,   the   peril  looms. 
His  lengthening  shadow   only   shows 
The  distance   lessen   from  his  foes : 
Who,  now  perceive,  on   tufted  lawn, 
His  step  relax,   his  vigor  gone  : 
And   forward  spring,   with   kindled  zeal, 
And  all   their  savage   lire  reveal, 


28  THE    FOX   CHASE. 

Unheeding  pain  or  toil — 
As  if  their  nerves  were   strung  with   steel 
As  if  their  nature  did  but  feel 

The  bloody  lust  of  spoil. 


And   Reynard   droops,  with   rare   distress, 
His  supple   foot,  and   famed  finesse, 
Which   saved   him   oft  in  sore   extremes- 
Which  Greek  and   Medieval   dreams 

With  pleasant   fables  blend — 
Exhausted,  at  his  worst  estate. 
Can   naught  of  any  risk  abate. 

Nor  any   succor  lend. 
Nor  hollow  ground,   nor  rockv   cave, 
Nor  laurel  maze   is  near  to  save. 


THE   FOX   CHASE.  29, 

Nor  can  the   dusk   of  eventide 
His  pace  improve,   or  figure   hide. 
Nor  cloud  of  mist  will  here  descend,- 
Like  that  which   saved   Idalia's  friend  ; — 

His  draggled  tail,  and  panting  breast, 
His  lolling  tongue,   his  sinking  crest. 
His   filmy  glance,  his   faltering  run 
Invite  the  fate   he   cannot   shun  ; — 

Too  late  to  turn — too   late  to  pause — 
Around  him,  yawning  hostile   jaws, 
Upon  his  mane  a   scalding  breath. 
And   in  his  ear  the   knell  of  death, 
And  on  his  heart  a   fell  dismay — 
He  ends  the  chase — he  yields  the  day. 

3* 


30  THE    FOX    CHASE. 

And   now,   the  horn,   with   mellow  blare, 
Makes  resonant  the  twilight  air 

With  undulations  sweet — 
And  hunter  strayed,  and  lagging  hound 
Are  hastening  to  the   murky  ground, 

Where  Revnard   met  defeat. 


FINIS. 


NOTE. 


The  scene  of  the  tbreg-oing  Is  laid  in  Chester  County,  on 
the  Battle-ground  of  the  Brandy  wine,  and  up  the  stream,  along 
its  hills  and  valleys. 

The  Red  Man's  or  Indian  Spring  is  just  below  the  Forks. 

Indian  Hannah  belonged  to  the  Lenni-LenappL'  tribe,  and 
remained  and  died  in  the  county  long  after  her  })eople  disap- 
peared. 


BY     THE     SAME     AUTHOR. 

MISCELLANIES. 

300  pp.     i2mo.     With  Steel  Engraving. 


"■  An  interesting  volume.'" — EJ-zv.  E--oerett. 

"We  like  to  echo  the  paean  to  this  charm  of  our  life  (Beauty 
of  Women)  5  and  we  cannot  help  copying,  therefore,  some 
sweet  thoughts  on  the  subject  from  these  Miscellanies." — A'^.  P. 

miiis. 

"  It  is  a  gem  of  its  kind.  All  in  all,  it  is  just  the  book  one 
likes  to  read  in  the  long,  dreamy  summer  days." — Lock  Hauen 
Press. 

"  It  merits  a  place  in  every  library  throughout  the  country." 
—  Lancaster  Intelligencer. 

"  The  book  is  composed  of  pieces  written  mostly  in  Europe, 
with   some   essays,  reminiscences,  Sec.     We   have    read   them, 


and  desire  to  express  our  gratification  with  botii  the  matter  and 
style  j  and  we  are  very  sure  they  will  meet  with  equal  favor 
into  whosesoever  hands  the  book  may  fall." — Germafito-ivti  Tele- 
graph. 

"  Displaying  great  and  varied  ability." — Washington  Chronicle. 

*' They  are  pleasantly  written." — Home  Journal,  N,  Y. 

"The  volume  overflows  with  classic  richness  and  poetic 
elegance." — Lebanon  Courier. 

*'  With  this  little  volume  a  professional  bookmaker  would 
have  woven  a  library  of  tales  and  sketches." — IVilkesbarre 
Record  of  the  Times. 

"  Written  in  a  style  that  at  once  engages  the  interest  of  the 
reader." — Lancaster  Examiner  and  Herald. 

"It  exhibits  great  research  in  the  fields  of  literature,  art  and 
science." — -West  Chester  Register  and  Examiner. 

"The  author  has  prodigally  lavished  a  wealth  of  material  — 
crowding,  indeed,  too  many  ideas  into  too  brief  space." — West 
Chester  Village  Record. 


"We  have  read  it,  and  we  like  it.  We  venture  the  opinion, 
that  a  fresher  volume  in  style,  and  the  manner  of  treating  its 
subjects,  has  not  issued  from  the  press  recently.  The  style  is 
quick,  rattling,  sharp  ami  sententious.'" — JVest  Chester  Republi- 
can and  Democrat, 

"Just  the  book  to  cure  a  fit  of  the  blues.''^ — West  Chester 
Jeffersonian. 


POEMS. 

150  pp.     i2mo.     Frontispiece  on  Steel. 

"Very   readable,    showing  thought   and   a   natural   sense    of 
melody." — Philadelphia  Press. 

"  Giving  evidence  of  high  poetic  culture." — Pittsburgh    Tra- 
'veller. 

"  Distinguished  for  flowing  versification,  genuine  pathos,  and 
fidelity  to  nature." — Harrisburg  State  Guard. 

"  We    recommend    them    to    all    who    love    poetry." — West 
Branch  Bulletin^  Williamsport. 


*'A11  bear  the  stamp  of  poetic  genius/'' — -Delaivare  County 
America7i. 

"Some  of  them  are  real  gems." — Jftlkesbarre  l"i7nes. 

"A  vein  of  charming  melody  runs  through  every  piece/'' — 
Oxford  Press 

*' A  production  well  worth  obtaining  by  every  lover  of  good 
poetry/' — Leha7ion  Courier. 

•"In  point  of  versatility  of  subject,  beauty  of  imagery,  pa- 
triotism, eloquence  and  facility  of  versification,  it  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  recently  placed  before  the  reading  public/' — 
West  Chester  Republican. 

"We  can  point  out  only  a  few  of  its  many  gems/'' — IVcst 
Chester  Village  Record. 


Webster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
Cummings  Sciioo!  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
Tufts  University 
200  Westboro  Road 
North  Grafton,  MA  01536 


